Shelf support



R. G. CHESLEY sHELF SUPPORT Nov. 28, 1967 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 R. V, w. mi ,um ma dc vw m WC w k, Ir.. w a 59 w w m. w J *w United States Patent fiicc 3,355,134 SHELF SUPPORT Robert. G. Chesley, Farmington, Mich., assignor to Chesley Industries, Inc., Farmington, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No, 502,125 9 Claims. (Cl. 248-250) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A 'br'acket is provided for supporting a sheIf of the type used lfor displaying 'retail merchandise. The bracket is adapted to be received on Vertical upright members secured tol a wall and having a plurality of vertically Vspaced slots. The `brachets have clamping means thereon which receive the shelves. The clamping means permit Lhorizontal adjustment of the shelf in two directions. As 'a result, a standard size shelf may be used with Vertical upright members which are secured to a wall at varying spaced-apart distances.

Background o the invention The shelf structure is of a type which is in use in retail stores for displaying merchandise. The unit includes a pair of Vertical upright members which lare secured to a Wall in spaced apart relatiouship and are provided with a plurality of vertical'ly spaced slots. The slots in the upright members are to receive parts of shelf brackets to support the brackets at a'ny desired vertical level. The brackets support a shelf for receiving retail merchandising.

The upright members when Originally installed are spaced apart a predetermined distance to accommodate a shelf of known width. The installation in the various retail stores m-ay have been made by different manufacturers with the upright members 'being spaced apart at various distances and include shelves of different widths in different stores. In the event it is desired to replace the wom or damaged shelves it would require the manufacturer to produce shelves of many widths to accommodate the uprights spaced apart at various distances. This lis an added -expense when the manufacturer may produce -a shelf of -a standard predeterm-ined width to belmounted on the various upright members previously installed in retailzstores.

v The present invention solves the above problem by providing a shelf bracket having a shelf clamping arrangement 'which permits mounting of a standard width lshelf on "the wide variety of 'upright members previously installed.

' `Summary o the invention The invention comprises a shelf structure arrangement `for supporting shelves lon 'upright members spaced apart horizontally-.at different dista'nces. B'r'akets are provided forsecurementtothe upright members. Each of the brack- 'ets extend's for substantially the depth 'of a shelf. A pair of clampsare secured to'each of the' 'brackets. lEach clamp 'includes a projecting supporting portion and a bend-able 3,355,l34 Patented Nov. 28, 1967 Objects o the invention It is therefore anobjec't of my invention to Vprovide an improved shelf structure 'arran'ge'ment for supporting shelves ofV a standard known single width onupright members spaced apart at various distan'c'es.

Another object of m'y invention is to Hprovide a-n improved shelf structure having brackets for securement to spaced apart upright members and to provide improved cl-amping facilities for securing the-shelves to said brackets with provisions for the adjustability off'the shelves to compensate for variations of the spaced apart distances between said upright members.

Another object of my -invention is to provide an improved arrangement forsecuring shelves to support brackets, mounted on spaced apart upright members, by clamps having a Vertical Vpoition secured to the brackets, a lower horizontal projecting supporting portion and an upper projecting bendable clamping portion` having an end clip defining an area of suflicient width between the ver-tical portion and the end clip to permit the adjustability of the shelf therein to cozmpensate for variations of'the spaced apart distances vbetween -said upright members.

Other objects of this invention Will. appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part lof this specification wherein like reference characters designate correspondng parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the shell structure embodying features of my invention;

FIGURE 2. is a perspective view of a supporting bracket vand clamps -embodying features vof my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view showing a modified form of shelf structure ernbodying features of my invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a view taken in the direction of the 'arrows 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arra-ngement of parts illustrated in the accornpanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodirnents and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and vnot of limitation. v

In accordance with my invention I provide an `improved shelf structure which permits replacement of parts with the assurance that such parts will fbe suitable to'cooperate with the remaininig parts to provide a sturdy structure for supporting any and all types of retail merchandise. In general the shelf structure `includes shelf supporting brackets for securement to spaced apart upright members which may be spaced apart at various distances in various retail stores. To compensate for this vdiscrepancy I 'provide clamps which are secured to said 'brackets and are provided with a lower horizontal projecting supporting portion and an upper vhorizontal projecting bendable portion having an end clip to provide a horizontal area between said bracket and said l'end clip of suificient width to 'support the shelf and to permit the adjustability of the shelf therein to compensa-te for varations of spaced apart dista-nces between. said upright members.

Referring to -the drawings the -numeral 10 designates in general my improved Vshelf structure which includes spaced apart upright...members or structures .12 secured to a supporting wall l14' by `'sorevvs 15. The 'shelf str-acture includes. two identical sectional shelf-supporting 3 spaced apart brackets 16. A Wire shelf 18 is supported on the brackets 16.

The two upright members 12 are channel Sections having legs 20 and 22 joined together by a web 24. A plurality of vertically spaced generally rectangular openings 30 are provided in the we-b 24. The openings permit mounting of the brackets 16 at different Vertical positions whereby the shelf 18 may be located at any desired Vertical level. The two uprights 12 shown are identical.

The sectional brackets 16 each include a main or shelf supporting section 34 and an adjuster or looking section 36. The main section is preferably made of sheet metal and is provided with a vertically extending indented portion 38 at end 39 to receive the vertically adjustable looking section at the lower end of the main section. The main section includes a hook portion 46. The hook portion 46 extends through one of the openings 30 and the adjuster section has an arm 48 which extends through another of the openings 30 to lock the bracket 16 to web 24 of upright 12. Further details of the mounting of the brackets 16 to uprights 12 may be found in my copending application Ser. No. 502,141, filed Oct. 22, 1965, for shelf structure and for this reason further description thereof is considered unnecessary herein.

The Wire shelf 18 is supported on brackets 16. The brackets 16 are supported on one end only by uprights 12 and extend forward at right angles to wall 14. The shelf 18 includes a rectangular frame 60 having side supporting elements or wires 64 which are secured to the brackets 16 by adjustable clamps 70. The shelf 18 includes transverse wires 72 and wires 74 extending substantially parallel to brackets 16.

The adjustable clamps 70 comprise a Vertical portion 78 and portions projecting horizontally therefrom including a lower supporting portion 80 which is divided into two legs. The clamps 70 also include an upper clamping portion 84 above the space between the two legs and having an end clip or stop 86. The clamps 70 are secured to brackets 16 by bolts 90 which extend through longitudinally extending slots 92 in brackets 16 to permit horizontal adjustrnent of the shelf 18 so that the rear portion of the shelf is between the uprights 12 and adjacent wall 14. The shelf 18 is received in the space between the supporting portion 80 and the clamping portion 84 When the clamping portion 84 is in the position shown in dotted line in FIGURE 3. The shelf is then properly spaced between these supports on the clamps 70 on adjacent brackets 16. The space between the portions 80 and 84 provide a horizontally extending space of sufficient area to permit lateral adjustment of the shelves to compensate for the various distances between the spaced apart uprights. When the shelf 18 is placed in proper position the clamping portion is bent downwardly to engage the supporting element or Wire 64 to firmly clamp said element between the portions 80 and 84. The space between portion 80 and 84 provides a horizontal area between the Vertical member 78 and the end clip 86 of sufficient width to compensate for variations in locations of uprights to meet various conditions. Thus a standard single width shelf may be used even though the Originally inst-alled uprights were positioned for shelves of different widths. In

'FIGURE 3 it Will be noted that the Vertical portion 78 is on one side of the brackets 16 and the horizontally extending portions 80 and 84 extend over the top of brackets 16 and in a direction away from the opposite side of the brackets 16.

FIGURES 4 and show the use of a single bracket 16 supporting the sides of two Wire shelves 18. This arrangement reduces the number of upright members and brackets required to support a given number of shelves. In this embodiment the Vertical portions and horizontal portions are on the same side of a bracket.

From the foregoing it will be noted that I have provided an improved clamping arrangement for securing shelves of the same width to uprights which are spaced apart at various distances in various stores. Also shelves of various widths may be used in some instances if desired as the clamping facilities provide for such conditions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A shelf structure arrangement for supporting shelves of known width on upright members spaced apart at various distances, brackets for securement to said upright members, clamps secured to said brackets and including lower supporting portions and upper clamping portions, said portions on two adjacent brackets extending toward each other and providing horizontal areas of sufhcient width to compensate for variations of spaced apart distances between said upright members to receive the side peripheral edges of said shelves in said areas to clamp same to said brackets, said brackets having elongated longitudinally extending slots, means extending between said clamps and brackets and through said slots to permit longitudinal adjustrnent of said shelves between the front and rear of said brackets.

2. A shelf supporting arrangement as defined in claim 1 Wherein the longitudinal slots in said brackets permit the adjustment of said shelves on said brackets to the rear of said upright members so that the clamps firmly secure said shelves against longitudinal or lateral movement on said brackets.

3. A shelf structure arrangement for supporting shelves on upright members spaced apart at various distances, brackets for securement to said upright members, each of said brackets extending for substantially the depth of a shelf, a pair of clamps secured to each of said brackets, each clamp including a projecting supporting portion and a bendable clamping portion having an end clip, said portions defining an area of sufficient width to permit the adjustability of the shelf therein to compensate for variations of spaced apart distances between said upright members.

4. A shelf structure arrangement for supporting shelves on upright members as defined in claim 3 wherein the clamps include a Vertical portion clamped to said brackets, a horizontal lower projecting portion and a horizontal bendable clamping upper portion With an end clip to define a horizontally extending area between said vertical portion and said end clip of sufficient width to permit the adjustability of the shelf therein to compensate for variations of spaced apart distances between said upright members.

5. A shelf structure arrangement for supporting shelves on upright members as defined in claim 4 Wherein.

the horizontal lower projecting portion provides two' spaced apart legs With the clamping upper portion extending between said legs and bendable downwardly to engage the shelf to lock the shelf against lateral movement.

6. A shelf structure arrangement for supporting shelves on spaced apart upright members, brackets for securement to said upright members, clamps secured to said .brackets and including lower supporting portions and upper clamping portions, said portions on two adjacent brackets extending toward each other and providing clamping areas of suflicient width to compensate for variations in shelf widths and variations in spaced apart distances of said upright members to receive the side peripheral edges of said shelves in said areas to clamp same to said brackets.

7. A shelf structure for securement to vertically extending upright spaced apart at various distances, said shelf structure including shelf-support brackets securable on one end thereto to said uprights to extend forward therefrom and having longitudinally extending elong'ated slots, a shelf carried by said brackets and including supporting elements extending longitudinally with said brackets, adjustable clamps secured to said brackets for longitudinal adjustment relative to said elongated slots to position the Vshelf at the desired location on the brackets, said clamps being provided with a lower supporting portion and an upper' clamping portion forsaid elements with said portions extending inwardly between two adjacent brackets toward each other, said portions on each clamp providing a supporting and clamping area of greater width than the width of a supporting element and the portions of the two extending toward each other having therebetween supporting and clampng areas for receiving the supporting elements between the spaced apart uprights to compensate for the various distances that the uprights are spaced apart.

8. A shelf structure for securement to spaced apart vertically extending uprights securable to a wall, said shelf structure including shelf support brackets securable on one end thereof to said uprights to extend forward therefrom and having longitudinally extending elongated slots, a shelf ca-rried by said brackets and including supporting elements extending longitudinally with said brackets, adjustable clamps secured to said brackets for longitudinal adjustment relative to said elongated slots to position the shelf between said uprights and adjacent said wall on the rear end of said shelf, said clamps being provided with a lower supporting portion and an upper clamping portion for said elements with said portions eX- tending inwardly between two adjacent brackets toward each other, said portions on each clamp providng a supporting and clamping area 'of greater horizontal width than the width of a supporting element and the portions of the two extending toward each other having therebetween supporting and clamping areas providing variable positions for receiving the supporting elements to clamp the shelves to said brackets.

9. A shelf structure for securement to spaced apart vertically extending uprights, said shelf structure including shelf-support brackets securable on one end thereof to said uprights to extend forward therefrom and having longitudinally extending elongated slot's, a shelf carried by said brackets and including supporting elements extending longitudinally with said brackets, adjustable clamps secured to said brackets on opposite sides of said brackets for longitudinal adjustment relative to said elongated slots to position the shelves at the desired location on the brackets, said clamps being provided with a lower supporting portion and an upper clamping portion for said elements with said portions extending from opposite directions from one bracket to support two shelf elements from one bracket, said portions on each clamp providng a supporting and clamping a-rea of a greater width than the width of a supporting element for supporting and clamping the supporting elements at various locations in said areas.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,294,35l 12/1966 Rollins 248-243 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

6. A SELF STRUCTURE ARRANGEMENT FOR SUPPORTING SHELVES ON SPACED APART UPRIGHT MEMBERS, BRACKETS FOR SECUREMENT TO SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS, CLAMPS SECURED TO SAID BRACKETS AND INCLUDING LOWER SUPPORTING PORTIONS AND UPPER CLAMPING PORTIONS, SAID PORTIONS ON TWO ADJACENT BRACKETS EXTENDING TOWARD EACH OTHER AND PROVIDING CLAMPING AREAS OF SUFFICIENT WIDTH TO COMPENSATE FOR VARIATIONS IN SHELF WIDTHS AND VARIATIONS IN SPACED APART DISTANCES OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS TO RECEIVE THE SIDE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF SAID SHELVES IN SAID AREAS TO CLAMP SAME TO SAID BRACKETS. 